Transcript Highlights:

• If the fees are assessed regardless of your income, then those who make less and have to pay these fees
• need a little bit of a higher threshold of the legislature because it's our duty as policymakers to assess
• For those that get concerned about regressive, progressive, all of, since fees are assessed regardless
• need a little bit of a higher threshold of the legislature because it's our duty as policymakers to assess
• legislature because it's our duty as policymakers to assess, to impose whatever fees or tax policy.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• providing we hire two mental health experts to come in and look at our mental health process and assessment
• :33.680><c> and</c> look at our mental health process and look at our mental health process and assessment
• But our prison assessment instrument is right on track where it should be.
• But our prison assessment look at that.
• But our prison assessment instrument<00:20:17.840><c> is</c><00:20:18.080><c> right</c><00:20:18.320>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The only thing I do need to note is our impact assessment hasn't changed from our prior testimony.
• The only thing I do need to note is our impact assessment hasn't changed from our prior testimony.
• with some submits supplemental testimony with some sort<00:58:55.200><c> of</c><00:58:55.359><c> assessment
• </c><00:58:55.760><c> of</c><00:58:56.000><c> potential</c><00:58:56.400><c> growth</c> sort of assessment
• of potential growth sort of assessment of potential growth impact. impact. impact.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 302, which would expand access to medical cannabis by removing the in-person provider-patient relationship requirement and related restrictions. The Department of Health supported the bill, and multiple advocates and organizations testified in support, including the ACLU of Hawaii, Hawaii Alliance for Cannabis Reform, Marijuana Policy Project, and others. Supporters said the measure would improve access for patients, especially on outer islands, and some urged broader amendments allowing providers to certify cannabis for any medical condition and to speed registration and treat in-state and out-of-state patients equally. No opposition was heard, and the bill was left with no questions after testimony. The committee also heard HB 1052 HD1, which clarifies that the Public Utilities Commission may use universal service fund monies to provide free telecommunications access for individuals with print disabilities. Testimony was uniformly supportive from the DCCA Division of Consumer Advocacy, the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, the Department of Human Services, the Public Utilities Commission, and the National Federation of the Blind of Hawaii. Witnesses described the program as an important accessibility service that has been operating under prior appropriations and should continue under the universal service program. HB 1482, relating to controlled substances and hemp/synthetic cannabinoids, drew support from the Department of Law Enforcement, Department of Health, Honolulu Police Department, and others, with some comments from the Attorney General’s office. Supporters said the bill would clarify that delta-8 THC is a controlled substance and help enforcement against illegal hemp products and synthetic cannabinoids. Testimony and questioning focused on the need for better lab testing capacity, retail registry and age-gating, seizure authority, nuisance abatement, and possible use of special funds or appropriations to support enforcement. Members also discussed enforcement of illegal hemp businesses and whether additional funding or statutory changes would be needed. Finally, the committee took up HB 712, a 340B drug-discount measure affecting safety-net providers and contract pharmacies. Hospitals, health centers, and provider groups testified in support, saying the bill would protect access to discounted drugs and preserve funding for services such as chronic disease management, transportation, and specialty care. Pharmaceutical-industry representatives opposed the bill or sought amendments, arguing the 340B program has expanded beyond its original intent and lacks transparency, and they requested reporting or audit-like provisions to verify claims and revenues. Members questioned both sides about alleged abuse, the growth of contract pharmacies, and whether the bill should include transparency requirements before moving forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• sp1</c><00:22:47.640><c> 1473</c> The next agenda item is SB 1473, relating to Central Services assessments
• or a driver education assessment.
• January 1, 2028, with more effective broadband reversing alarms by January 1, 2028. driver education assessment
• our driver education assessment our Correctional<00:57:48.160><c> Facilities</c><00:57:48.680><c> if
• right, members, let's move on to the next measure before us, SP 1473, relating to Central Services assessment

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Transportation heard several bills on March 11, including measures on harbor vessel requirements, transportation funding, clean fuels, water carriers, parking enforcement, and electric mobility. For SB 1402 SD1 on vessels in state commercial harbors, testimony was split: the General Contractors Association of Hawaii and the Longline Association supported it, while Hol Holo Charters and one individual opposed it, saying the bill should be more specific about tourboat operators. For SB 1473 on central services assessments, SB 321 on privately owned roads, and SB 419 on insurance coverage for child passenger restraint systems, the committee heard brief testimony with no noted objections or actions beyond moving through the agenda. For SB 1009 SD2 on parking, the bill would create fines for misuse of disability and EV parking spaces and direct the revenue to the Safe Routes to School special fund. Support came from Ulupono Initiative, Climate Protectors Hawaii, the Disability Communication Access Board, and others, while the Retail Merchants of Hawaii supported the bill’s intent but questioned using the fines for Safe Routes to School, and Hawaiian Electric suggested directing EV-related fines to the EV charging system subaccount instead. Hawaii Appleseed supported the measure but raised concerns about the size of the fines and possible impacts on low-income residents. The committee asked questions about enforcement when EV chargers are inoperable; DAGS indicated the stalls could be used and would not be enforced in that situation. For SB 1120 on a clean fuel standard, the Department of Transportation supported the measure but asked for the implementation date to be delayed by one year and requested an independent Hawaii-specific economic impact study due before the next session. Support also came from several transportation, airline, and industry groups, while Tim Rhymer and Frank Schultz opposed it. The committee then heard SB 21 on water carriers, which would authorize a PUC inflationary cost index adjustment mechanism and exemptions; DOT, the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, Young Brothers, and the Hawaii Harbors Users Group supported it, while Frank Schultz opposed. Finally, the committee heard SB 117 on electric mobility, which would expand and rename the rebate program, set age limits and operating rules for e-bikes and electric motorcycles, require insurance for electric motorcycle operators, and make conforming changes. Testimony was largely supportive, including from DOT, the Hawaii Bicycling League, the Queen’s pediatric trauma center, and Ulupono Initiative, though one testifier warned that the bill’s wattage definition could unintentionally capture some pedal-assist e-bikes. No votes were taken on the individual bills in the portions shown, and the transcript ended with the committee continuing its hearing agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• Advanced coursework will be available for all students who perform on the annual assessment of achievement
• Advanced coursework will be available for all students who perform on the annual assessment of achievement
• also, you know, leadership in the building is so essential, and if you look on page four in their assessment
• school, and they have certain things that they do, and this would add to that list of criteria an assessment
• On page four in their assessment, they do an audit.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House Primary and Secondary Education Committee met and first took up House Bill 14, which would establish Alyssa’s Law in Kentucky public schools. The bill, as amended by committee substitute, would allow districts to implement wearable panic alert systems for school staff beginning in the 2025-26 school year. Sponsor Rep. Kevin Jackson and supporters described the system as a silent badge/button that can alert school offices, 911, first responders, and other personnel, with different button sequences for different emergencies. Testimony from Lori Alade, Alyssa’s mother and founder of Make Our Schools Safe, emphasized that “time equals life” and said the technology can help in active threats, medical emergencies, weather events, and other urgent situations. Students from St. Margaret Mary’s Kentucky Youth Assembly also supported the bill, citing the Georgia school shooting response as an example of how such systems can save lives. Members asked about vendor neutrality, costs, training, and whether the system could be used off campus; sponsors said the bill is intended to be vendor neutral, estimated statewide costs ranged from about $2 million to $6 million, training would be provided before the school year, and they would follow up on the off-campus question. The committee approved HB 14 with the committee substitute attached. The committee then reconsidered and approved House Bill 48, a cleanup measure related to school reporting requirements. The substitute was described as addressing department concerns about eliminating certain reporting forms while preserving district flexibility and reducing burdensome reporting. It would allow schools to maintain or use alternative reporting methods, provide KDE a timeline and guidelines for reporting on Cognia software used for CPS and C-dips, and require a written report to the LRC describing reporting requirements imposed on public schools and districts, with items not reapproved by the legislature sunsetting in 2026. The bill passed the committee with the committee substitute attached. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 190, as amended by committee substitute, which would shift the measure from a planning-and-action bill to a planning-only bill for advanced coursework and codify some gifted-student regulations. Rep. Duvall and Dr. Julia Link Roberts of WKU said the bill is intended to expand opportunities for high-potential students by requiring districts to set policies on advanced coursework or accelerated learning options for grades 4 through 12. The substitute changes the standard from “proficient” to “distinguished,” allows districts flexibility in how they implement the policies, and may require automatic enrollment for students scoring distinguished, with opt-out provisions and a principal exception if coursework conflicts with career pathways or CTE access. Members discussed how the proposal differs from current advanced programs, the broader inclusion of students, and district variation in available opportunities. No final vote on HB 190 was included in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm not a big fan of taking steps under the law that are going to have zero impact in my assessment,
• I'm not a big fan of taking steps under the law that are going to have zero impact in my assessment,
• I'm not a big fan of taking steps under the law that are going to have zero impact in my assessment,
• I'm not a big fan of taking steps under the law that are going to have zero impact in my assessment,
• I'm not a big fan of taking steps under the law that are going to have zero impact in my assessment,

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It is primarily looking at data and assessment as an overall mission to support the state systems, to
• looking at and a half um it is primarily looking at data<00:20:11.400><c> and</c><00:20:11.880><c> assessment
• One is data and assessment; one is policy and program development within the departments and across the
• 36.360><c> and</c> four different buckets one is data and four different buckets one is data and assessment
• one is policy and program assessment one is policy and program development<00:20:39.799><c> within</

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Do you think that's a fair assessment for our taxpayers to not have a voice about their tax increases

Committee: House Election Law

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He said they will screen a documentary on Taiwan's semiconductor journey, from humble beginnings to becoming
• </c><00:19:21.120><c> We</c><00:19:21.360><c> will</c><00:19:21.600><c> screen</c><00:19:22.000><c> a
• We will screen a and History.
• We will screen a documentary<00:19:23.200><c> on</c><00:19:23.440><c> Taiwan's</c><00:19:24.080><c> semiconductor
• for making sure that when services are going on, the doors are secured, that people that enter are screened

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Um, right now in our state liquor stores, they have these visuals on the big screens running about
• When you purchase these online or whomever, was there a screen that came up asking if you were over 21
• was</c><04:39:34.400><c> there</c><04:39:34.561><c> a</c><04:39:35.039><c> a</c><04:39:36.480><c> screen
• </c><04:39:36.719><c> that</c><04:39:36.959><c> came</c> whomever, was there a a screen that came whomever
• , was there a a screen that came up<04:39:37.600><c> asking</c><04:39:38.000><c> if</c><04:39:38.240>

Committee: House Commerce and Consumer Affairs

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Next, on to risk assessment and conflict of interest.
• and hazard vulnerability assessments.
• Thank you. that work to develop threat assessments that work to develop threat assessments and<01:06:
• 26.880><c> hazard</c><01:06:27.280><c> vulnerability</c><01:06:27.920><c> assessments.
• </c> and hazard vulnerability assessments. and hazard vulnerability assessments.

Bills: HF4072 , HF3691 , HF4613

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Keywords: workforce development, journalism, local news, internships, media training, emergency management, essential employees, public safety, law enforcement, workforce, economic development, appropriation, Twin Cities Marathon, Explore Minnesota, grants, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• tool to help bring employers into compliance without taking enforcement action or, for example, assessing
• penalties and would recommend assessing penalties and would recommend um<01:54:01.360><c> that</c><01
• must provide payroll, policy, and timekeeping records for review, and DLI interviews employees to assess
• review and DLI interviews<02:00:20.960><c> employees</c><02:00:21.440><c> to</c><02:00:21.599><c> assess
• </c> interviews employees to assess interviews employees to assess compliance. compliance. compliance

Committee: Senate Labor

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , they could set up, you know, provide some kind of metrics: what are they, how are they going to assess
• </c><00:28:17.039><c> what</c><00:28:17.360><c> good</c><00:28:17.679><c> or</c> they going to assess
• what good or they going to assess what good or exceptional<00:28:18.559><c> performance</c><00:28:19.039
• <c> study</c><01:42:51.280><c> for</c><01:42:51.440><c> a</c><01:42:51.600><c> county</c> needs assessment
• study for a county needs assessment study for a county imposed<01:42:52.159><c> affordable</c><01:42

Bills: HB1721 , HB1714 , HB1718 , HB1732 , HB1740 , HB1777 , HB1842 , HB1919 , HB1701 , HB1923 , HB1741 , HB1734 , HB1739

Committee: House Housing

Keywords: housing, expedited permits, insurance, indemnification, construction, affordable housing, executive compensation, Hawaii housing finance, legislative approval, low-income housing, moderate-income housing, mixed-use development, transit-oriented development, TOD, county powers, Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, HHFDC, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, DHHL, affordable housing credits

Summary: The House Housing Committee met on February 4 and heard testimony on several housing measures, beginning with HB1721, which clarifies insurance, indemnification, and certificate-of-occupancy requirements for expedited permits. Testimony on HB1721 was uniformly supportive from the American Council of Engineering Companies, the Grassroot Institute, and individual testifiers, who said the bill would fix insurance issues for design professionals and encourage more participation in the expedited-permit program. No opposition was heard and no questions were raised. The committee then heard HB1714, which would raise salary caps for the executive director and deputy executive director positions at the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation and allow more autonomy in personnel matters, including employment contracts. HHFDC supported the bill, saying greater flexibility is needed to recruit and retain staff and that current pay ceilings are not the main issue because the agency lacks operating funds to reach them. The Department of Human Resources Development offered comments and raised concerns about autonomous personnel authority and employment contracts, saying state personnel matters are governed by existing statutes and collective bargaining rules; the Hawaii Public Housing Authority also offered comments, and one board member and one individual opposed the measure. Members questioned whether performance-based pay or existing incentive policies could address retention instead of statutory salary changes. The committee also heard HB1718, which would make permanent county authority to facilitate mixed-use developments and issue county bonds for low- and moderate-income housing projects. Support came from OPSD, HHFDC, the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Housing and Land Management, and Housing Hawaii’s Future, all emphasizing that permanent authority is needed to finance long-term mixed-use and transit-oriented projects. A member asked whether the sunset provision would make bonding impractical, and the city representative agreed that temporary authority would make financing difficult because development takes time. Later, the committee took up HB1732, establishing the Kamina Homes program to fund counties’ purchase of voluntary deed restrictions from eligible buyers. The Department of Taxation and several groups, including HHFDC, AARP Hawaii, the Tax Foundation of Hawaii, Hawaii Realtors, Holomua Collaborative, and others testified, with most supporting the bill as a way to help local families remain in Hawaii and age in place. Holomua said a recent survey found 75% of 3,200 working families were considering moving, and argued the bill could preserve housing for local residents. Members asked about the bill’s 8% cap on deed-restriction cost and why the program focuses on residency rather than resale restrictions; the bill’s proponents said the cap allows flexibility for county negotiations and that the measure is aimed at workforce preservation rather than land-trust-style appreciation limits. Finally, the committee heard HB1740, which would modify a prior HHFDC housing pathway by reducing the qualified-resident requirement from 100% to 80% and allowing more flexibility for long-term rental instead of owner occupancy. HHFDC and Holomua Collaborative supported the change, saying the earlier 100% requirement had produced no developments or applicants and that the revised standard would make projects more feasible while still preserving housing for local residents. The committee did not take final votes on these measures during the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:17:40.880><c> uh</c><00:17:41.039><c> charged</c><00:17:41.520><c> $5</c> instead of being assessed
• uh charged $5 instead of being assessed uh charged $5 per<00:17:42.240><c> thousand,</c><00:17:42.559
• It’s, you know, it would be like if we assessed 4% tax on everybody’s stock and bond portfolio.
• So the taxpayer gets one bill with the assessed value per the town's assessment, and with rates that
• are consistent with that assessed value.

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, in terms of assessing the that.
• And that's how I'm going to look at assessing this is the NIL money I would give her.
• </c><00:36:03.760><c> this</c> how I'm going to look at assessing this how I'm going to look at assessing
• It is based on a legal assessment.
• It is based on a legal assessment.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: A joint informational briefing of the House and Senate higher education committees focused on how the University of Hawaiʻi athletics department plans to remain competitive in the new NIL era, including the effects of the House v. NCAA settlement, direct institutional payments, and the need to balance competitiveness with the university’s educational mission. Senators and committee members introduced themselves, and the briefing featured remarks from women’s basketball coach Laura Beeman, football coach Timmy Chang, and Athletic Director Matt Elliott. Coach Beeman said NIL has already affected recruiting and retention in women’s basketball, estimating the program has lost six to 10 student-athletes because it lacks the funding to keep comparable talent. She emphasized that the issue is not greed but retention, culture, and keeping student-athletes who value the university and community, while also using NIL as a way to teach financial literacy, privacy, and adult responsibilities. Coach Chang described similar pressures in football, including transfer portal volatility and competing offers from other programs, and gave examples of players whose personal and family circumstances made NIL support important for staying at Hawaiʻi. Athletic Director Elliott said the department’s vision is to create an outstanding student-athlete experience, recruit and retain elite athletes, compete at the top of the Mountain West, and strengthen community ties. He said the department wants to preserve the educational focus while adapting to a system in which student-athletes can share in revenue. Elliott explained that UH is seeking a $5 million annual NIL fund, is fundraising through the community and the “Boost the Bose” account, and is also pursuing individual NIL deals, corporate sponsorship-related deals, and licensing opportunities. In response to Senator Kim’s question, he said NIL compensation can come through two tracks: institutional payments within the department’s discretion and outside deals that must be reviewed for market value under the new reporting system. No votes or formal actions were taken; the meeting was informational only.

Transcript Highlights:

• School property taxes make up about a third of all the property taxes that are being assessed by other
• School property taxes make up about a third of all the property taxes that are being assessed by other
• School property taxes make up about a third of all the property taxes that are being assessed by other
• School property taxes make up about a third of all the property taxes that are being assessed by other
• School property taxes make up about a third of all the property taxes that are being assessed by other

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It limits assessments of attorney fees and costs and requires associations to offer reasonable payment
• </c><01:17:47.000><c> of</c><01:17:47.199><c> attorney</c> input it limits assessments of attorney input
• it limits assessments of attorney fees<01:17:47.960><c> and</c><01:17:48.239><c> costs</c><01:17:48.679
• to all homeowners to balance assessments to all homeowners to balance the<01:33:02.320><c> cost</c><
• Secondly, the assessment cap on costs of enforcing the bylaws and collection fees to $1,500 would limit

Committee: Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• for</c><00:21:09.960><c> one</c><00:21:10.200><c> year</c><00:21:10.480><c> to</c><00:21:10.760><c> assess
• </c><00:21:11.159><c> the</c> quarterly for one year to assess the quarterly for one year to assess the
• we would like to continue for the panel decided, uh, for an additional two years while further assessment
• can be done um while further assessment can be done um what<00:42:49.440><c> that</c><00:42:49.599><
• And so we let people—it takes a while to do the actual assessment and then decide that someone should

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• serve our users state parks to better serve our users and<00:05:13.320><c> to</c><00:05:13.560><c> assess
• appropriate</c><00:05:14.800><c> fees</c><00:05:15.800><c> three</c><00:05:16.400><c> to</c> and to assess
• appropriate fees three to and to assess appropriate fees three to provide<00:05:17.039><c> sufficient
• It's all over the place, and that's a very fair assessment, Senator, and we are trying, through this
• Senator and we are fair assessment Senator and we are trying<00:30:23.600><c> so</c><00:30:24.039><c

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• care via the repeal of 141-C:20-e, thereby preventing families, facilities, and communities from assessing
• and that's an absolute risk assessment and that's an absolute right<00:40:56.160><c> of</c><00:40:56.319
• They have to make a risk-based assessment.
• They have to make a risk-based assessment.
• ,</c> following up on your uh last assessment, following up on your uh last assessment, can<02:40:28.479

Committee: House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

Keywords: 1189, house, all